A CAMPAIGN will be launched today to save the traditional British cafe from extinction.

Campaigners fear continental-style coffee shops are pushing old-fashioned cafes out of the high street.

Research found almost one in three people were aware of a cafe closing down in their neighbourhood.

That trend is mirrored by an explosion in the number of coffee-shop chain outlets across the UK.

Cafe owners across Wales yesterday welcomed the campaign but said many of their customers remained loyal because of the friendly service and good value provided by the traditional cafes.

The Save the Proper British Cafe campaign will appeal to members of the public to pledge their support online and buy brown rubber wristbands.

Paul Harvey, of HP Sauce, which is behind the campaign, said cafes were a national institution, but he feared they may almost disappear by 2010 if their decline continued.

He said, "Britain has already suffered the demise of proper British institutions like the red phone box and the faithful Routemaster bus, which is why it's so important to start this campaign."

The company's survey of more than 5,000 people found three-quarters felt better about spending their cash at a local cafe, rather than at a coffee shop chain. A quarter knew the name of one of the people who worked in their local cafe, and almost a third knew of a local cafe that had closed down in recent years due to declining business.

Almost nine in 10 were concerned their local high street was becoming overrun by chain stores.

"My husband is Italian and his family have always had cafes in South Wales," she said. "We need to keep the traditional family cafe."

She said a Costa Coffee business had opened this year in the town, where there was also a Subway, but had not harmed her trade.

"We offer a personal touch. These coffee places go through staff quite quickly but some of our staff have been here for years. Holidaymakers come back to us year after year. We get a lot of students, who come for coffee or our all-day breakfast." Her family bought the cafe four years ago but did not change the menus, which over 30 years had built up the cafe's reputation for good, cheap food.

At the Kardomah cafe in Swansea, partner Marcus Luporini said the rise of chains like Starbucks had affected business.

"People like the idea of these trendy coffee bars.

"But there's a percentage of people who are a bit more savvy and realise there are places you can go where the service is personal and the food can still be good value."

The Kardomah will always be connected with Dylan Thomas and his bohemian friends, the "Kardomah boys", who used to meet at the original cafe.

"The reason this business has been successful is continuity.

"People ask for a latte now but my father has been serving it since the 1970s, when people knew it as cafe au lait."

His cafe served just two popular types of coffee, an American blend and a stronger Italian one.

Cherry Ho, manager of Bistro One cafe in central Cardiff, said chains like Coffee Republic had not affected her business because they appealed to a different clientele.

"People come to this cafe because they've been here before, and their fathers came here. One of the people who works here has been here since the cafe opened 33 years ago.

"We get a lot of office workers and middle-aged people upwards."

She said rising rates and rent meant the business had to work harder, but prices remained low as they were the cafe's selling point. The cafe also benefited from being close to the Millennium Stadium.

A Starbucks spokeswoman said the chain aimed to provide a "third place", between office and home, where people could relax.

She added, "We believe that we have contributed to the phenomenal growth in coffee culture in the UK and that this has created opportunities for all coffee retailers, large and small."